Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez

7 reviews

clairebartholomew549's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I bawled through this book. It might have been because I was on a plane (I read once that we're more likely to cry on planes - something about feeling detached from our normal lives and feeling kind of private and thoughtful) and because I was on the tail end of my period (lol that I treat Goodreads like my diary, oops), but every Abby book hits me hard. Abby always handles delicate subject matter with such deftness and compassion, and the way characters handle grief and dread and fear always feels grounded in reality and complicated in the way it would actually play out in life. I was initially wary of the way the characters were talking about pregnancy and addiction, but as usual Abby came through with her trademark empathy and introspection and made me feel so deeply for everyone involved. This book really got to me with its depictions of how families can always heal and figure out how to be there for each other, no matter how bad it's been for years and generations, and of how no day is guaranteed. I was obsessed with both Vanessa and Adrian and was really rooting for both of them, and the ending truly gave me chills. This was one of my favorites of Abby's for sure. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Death of parent

madelinexpfit's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I started this book and wasn’t really able to get into it initially. I came to this book because of my love for Just For The Summer. And while the fundamentals were similar, I didn’t love it just as much. 

Thankfully I was able to get into the book after a few chapters! The books was really good and inspiring to live your best life because you never know how many days you truly have left. 

Abby Jimenez writes lines that sound like Taylor Swift lyrics and it’s really beautiful. 

There were definitely turns in this book and I found myself considering how they come up with these twists, if they just draw from a hat sometimes. But the story was very good and cohesive. 

I was in love in love with the characters but they were enjoyable. And I related more to the male character and the emotions he was going through. Both characters had some listening problems but I think they worked out in the end. 

Grace was one of my favorite characters and she was so sweet. 

At the end, there is a sort of update about all of their lives for a few months. And I think it was good that Jimenez stayed realistic and didn’t make it seem all happy, but on the right track with a few flaws (Spoiler: Ex. Annabel relapsing but getting help immediately)

This book is cute and it wouldn’t be my top recommendation but I would still recommend it as a fast paced romance if you’re facing some baby fever! Abby Jimenez hasn’t failed me yet! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, and Death of parent

cady_sass's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am SUING for emotional damage. You will be hearing from my lawyer, Abby. 
Also, marry me? Just kidding. Unless? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment

jackie_recommends's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment

theespressoedition's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

"But make time for other things that aren't work. Find balance. Find joy. You are the kind of man who can't see the shapes in the clouds. And it's not because you lack imagination. It's because you're too busy to look up."

This book, ladies and gents, is a masterpiece. A work of art. I liked The Friend Zone. I enjoyed The Happily Ever After Playlist. But my goodness gracious, Life's Too Short takes the cake in every way, shape, and form.

I instantly related with Vanessa. She's a digital content creator who is dealing with health issues - just like me. Right off the bat, I appreciated how her job was taken seriously and she wasn't portrayed as some kind of airhead or attention-seeker. Her family was chaotic and her life was a bit of a hot mess, but she was real and beautiful in her own way and I loved it.

Then there was Adrian. Our soft, cinnamon roll boy. He was absolutely precious and I related with him in a lot of ways as well. He preferred work and organization like myself, but he also had a huge capacity for love. The way these two characters molded together to create the perfect friends-to-"forbidden"-lovers was just perfect in every way.

The slow burn was done really well and I actually loved how painfully accurate the big relationship "challenge" was. It reminded me so much of my husband and myself when we first met and he was navigating my life with a chronic illness.

Overall, I think this book was so special because of how personal it felt, but I also just think it was a beautifully written love story that I'll want to read again and again!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Gun violence and Forced institutionalization

grifgirl's review against another edition

emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol

emily_clay's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Medical trauma, and Abandonment

Minor: Stalking and Car accident